Common signs in dogs
Reduced stamina, coughing, rapid breathing at rest, fainting, abdominal enlargement, weakness, or weight loss may occur depending on the disease. Coughing has many non-cardiac causes, so it should not be used alone to diagnose heart failure.
Common signs in cats
Cats often hide cardiac disease. Rapid or labored breathing, reduced activity, poor appetite, or sudden hind-limb weakness from an arterial clot can be presenting signs. A heart murmur may be detected during routine examination, but some cats with significant disease have no obvious murmur.
How is heart disease evaluated?
Depending on the findings, testing may include chest radiographs, echocardiography, ECG, blood pressure, cardiac biomarkers, or blood tests for other diseases. The best combination depends on species, age, symptoms, and suspected condition.
Monitoring at home
For pets with known heart disease, your veterinarian may ask you to count sleeping or resting respiratory rate. Changes from the individual pet’s baseline can be more useful than a single isolated number. Do not start or change cardiac medication without veterinary direction.